Odd, but a real concern!

I come at this from the perspective of a very involved and serious cyclist, and a long time Director of Touring technical/logistics.

The answer is a resounding yes; placed in close proximity to a musical instrument or other source that is producing a substantial sound (sound wave), the bikes will indeed produce a (corresponding) response.

There are a number of ways to terminate or prevent that response from occurring. (1) Don't put the bikes near the source of sound. (2) Don't put the source of sound near the bikes. (3) (on a more serious note) Insulate/isolate the bikes from the sound source. Padding is one good way to do this. Even wrapping the bikes in a blanket will have this effect. Putting cardboard (folded or broken down boxes) between the bikes and the sound source will also accomplish this. (4) Laying the bikes down so they are slicing through the sound, rather than in the path of the sound will also lessen but not extinguish the response.

Be aware, depending on the bicycles characteristics, and size, more than just the spokes will respond. Most materials have a response to sound, though we often don't hear it, its there. If you put multiple bikes in the path of a focused sound wave, you will hear its response I promise.

Hope this helps.

Matt A very interested cyclist and reader.

-----Original Message----- From: Campus Bike Project campusbikeproject@gmail.com To: The Think Tank thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org Sent: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 11:11 am Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Storing Bikes near a Pipe Organ

When the Schwinntonation performed at they made almost all the bicycle parts sing, but the sound probably depends heavily on the bike.

On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 8:28 AM, Harold Schreckengost mewshi@mewshi.com wrote:

I would imagine that, if it does make the spokes or anything vibrate, it would only be harmonic/sympathetic vibration (the spokes would only vibrate near the frequency they would ring at if plucked).

I would just give it a try. The padding idea isn't bad, either, just to ensure silence from them.

On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 8:24 AM, Henry Dunbar henry@phoenixbikes.org wrote:

Okay, this is an odd one, but I'll ask it anyway: Anyone have experience storing bikes near a pipe organ and if so, do the bikes make any noise due to the vibration?

I ask b/c we're considering working with a local church to give away a bunch of little kid bikes around the holidays. The pastor says I can store them in the choir loft until the event in December, but the choir director has concerns that they'll make noise (i.e. vibrating spokes) because they'll literally be right next to the huge pipe organ. I suppose it's possible, but told them I honestly didn't know and would check in with this astute body to see if anyone has first hand knowledge of a situation like this.

My guess is we won't know until we get them in there.

Anybody?

Henry Phoenix Bikes Arlington, VA

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